Yet again an ICC man has raised the question of sledging and the harm that it is doing to cricket. This time, at Lord's, in his `Spirit of Cricket' lecture, Sunil Gavaskar, the current chairman of the ICC's cricket committee — playing, pointed his finger at Australia as the worst sledgers in cricket.
I am not here to defend my countrymen, for I have written in these pages my disgust of sledging whether it is from my countrymen or other nations.
There are, however, a few points I would like to raise regarding Sunil's views.
To suggest, as he has done, that sledging was virtually unknown during his period amazes me. I made a return to Test cricket during Sunil's time and also coached Australia. Let me assure you that I was shocked just how personal sledging had become part of the game and there wasn't much evidence of good humour then. But I hurry here to say though that the best-spirited Test series I had played was in the 1977/78 series between Australia and India.
Players from both teams rose to the Packer threat and responded with a great series, played competitively, but also with good humour and respect.
The worst and most acrimonious series was between the Australians and the West Indies in 1991. Neither side was blameless, but Australia were soundly criticised, by the media, for their behaviour.
Australia were certainly not blameless, but just more obvious. The West Indies had a few `good' sledgers in that period, but often it went unnoticed as they did the sledging, wearing a helmet while fielding at short leg, while on the run and passing the batsman.
My old mate Lance Gibbs was the manager of the Windies team at that time and during the last Test he came to me to complain about Craig McDermott.
I asked him to sit and quietly told him about the Windies' sledging, including a confrontation between Viv Richards and Craig McDermott.
Craig was badly injured by a Courtney Walsh bouncer, which found the gap between the wire and the peak of his helmet. He required many stitches. For the rest of the series he had great difficulty in getting right behind the short deliveries.
In the last Test, Viv stationed himself at short point and as Craig ducked and weaved to avoid the bouncers, Viv launched a series of comments, suggesting Craig lacked courage.
Craig took the comments stoically for some time, but finally decided enough was enough. He took his helmet off, advanced towards Viv and said, `I love you when you talk dirty' and then turned his back to get ready for the next ball.
Viv was flabbergasted and wanted to take the matter further after the match. Fortunately, common sense and counselling prevailed and they didn't rumble behind the grand stand.
I thought in retrospect Craig had won the clash on a T.K.O with his comment.
The spirit of cricket is a hot gospel at present and the one I support. The spirit of cricket goes much further than just sledging. I would also include, obviously, disputing umpires decisions and running to the umpire while appealing.
Sunil has not always displayed (and very few Test players have), the spirit of cricket. In fact, he was the culprit in one of the two most embarrassing situations I have seen.
One was, when the Sri Lankan captain and his team went up to the boundary line when Muralitharan was no balled against Australia in Adelaide and the other was, when Sunil disputed a LBW decision against him, from Dennis Lillee, at Melbourne in the 80s.
On that occasion, Sunil was obviously displeased and indicated that he had hit the ball. When the umpire held firm Sunil started walking and ordered his fellow opener to follow him. As the outraged Gavaskar, followed by reluctant Chauhan, approached the gate to leave the field, Bapu Nadkarni, the former left-hand finger spinner and the Indian Assistant Manager then appeared, and ordered Gavaskar into the dressing room and told Chauhan to get back to the wicket.
The quiet, dignified Nadkarni, was I believe the only one in the Indian party and perhaps at the ground who understood the ramification, for, if both the batsmen had left the field, India would have forfeited the match.
Now, of course, Sunil is in the enviable position of being a very important and influential member of the ICC. It is good that he feels he should speak out about these major problems in cricket, but even more vital that he should ensure that something be done to remedy the problems.
Laws are already in place to deal with these problems, but unfortunately the officials, umpires and match referee are too soft and selective in their treatment of those players who transgress and cross the line of acceptable behaviour and fair play.
While on this subject perhaps Sunil and his committees could take another look at illegal bowlers. I am reminded of this yet again after observing Bangladesh's off-spinner Sanwar Hossein in action and noting that he has been reported for having a suspect action.
Interestingly, yet again, we are seeing another young unknown bowler reported while those more famous, perhaps they have more friends in higher places, are left alone.
If Hossein's action is illegal, then a further look must be taken at the three leading off-spinners in the world. The ball, which Hossein believes will leave the right-handers, is delivered in the same way as the three top off-spinners in world cricket do.
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